Laser processing system, and laser processing method

Abstract

A laser processing includes: a laser processing head; a robot for moving the laser processing head; a distance measuring sensor for measuring a distance between the laser processing head and a workpiece; a control device for controlling a laser emission operation of the laser oscillator and a movement operation of the robot; and a mode selection switch for selecting an operating mode for the laser processing. The control device executes the laser emission operation and the movement operation as the automatic operating mode if the automatic operating mode is selected by the mode selection switch and the distance measured by the distance measuring sensor is within a predetermined range.

1 . A laser processing system configured to perform a laser process on a workpiece, the laser processing system comprising:
 a laser processing head configured to emit a laser beam generated by a laser oscillator;   a robot configured to move the laser processing head relative to the workpiece;   a distance measurement sensor configured to measure a distance between the laser processing head and the workpiece;   a controller configured to control a laser emission operation of operating the laser oscillator to emit a laser beam from the laser processing head, and a movement operation of operating the robot to move the laser processing head relative to the workpiece; and   a mode selection switch configured to select a drive mode of the laser process,   wherein the controller is configured to, when an automatic drive mode, in which the laser emission operation and the movement operation are automatically executed in accordance with a processing program, is selected as the drive mode by the mode selection switch, and when the distance measured by the distance measurement sensor is within a predetermined range, execute the laser emission operation and the movement operation as the automatic drive mode.   
     
     
         2 . The laser processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an input device configured to receive an input operation of a manual laser emission command for causing the controller to execute the laser emission operation; and   a contact detection device configured to detect contact or non-contact between the laser processing head and the workpiece,   wherein the mode selection switch is configured to switch the drive mode between the automatic drive mode and a manual drive mode in which the controller executes the laser emission operation in response to the manual laser emission command, and   wherein the controller is configured to execute the laser emission operation as the manual drive mode in response to the manual laser emission command received through the input device, when the manual drive mode is selected by the mode selection switch and the contact detection device detects the contact.   
     
     
         3 . The laser processing system of  claim 2 , wherein the contact detection device includes:
 a conductive cable electrically connecting the laser processing head and the workpiece; and   a resistance sensor configured to measure resistance of a closed circuit formed by the workpiece, the laser processing head in contact with the workpiece, and the conductive cable,   wherein the contact detection device is configured to detect the contact or the non-contact based on the resistance measured by the resistance sensor.   
     
     
         4 . The laser processing system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to stop the laser emission operation when the mode selection switch is operated to deselect the manual drive mode or the contact detection device detects the non-contact, during execution of the laser emission operation in the manual drive mode. 
     
     
         5 . The laser processing system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 set a standby time from a time point when the contact detection device detects the non-contact during execution of the laser emission operation in the manual drive mode to when the laser emission operation is to be stopped; and   stop the laser emission operation in the manual drive mode when the standby time from the time point elapses.   
     
     
         6 . The laser processing system of  claim 2 , wherein the laser processing head includes a grip that is grippable by an operator with one hand, and
 wherein the input device is provided at the laser processing head adjacent to the grip so as to enable the input operation with the one hand gripping the grip.   
     
     
         7 . The laser processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured not to start at least one of the laser emission operation and the movement operation as the automatic drive mode, when the automatic drive mode is deselected by the mode selection switch or the distance measured by the distance measurement sensor is out of the range when the controller receives an automatic drive start command for starting the automatic drive mode. 
     
     
         8 . The laser processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to stop at least one of the laser emission operation and the movement operation when the mode selection switch is operated to deselect the automatic drive mode or the distance measured by the distance measurement sensor is out of the range, during execution of the laser emission operation and the movement operation as the automatic drive mode. 
     
     
         9 . The laser processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to execute gap control for operating the robot such that the distance matches a predetermined target distance, based on the distance measured by the distance measurement sensor, during execution of the laser emission operation and the movement operation as the automatic drive mode. 
     
     
         10 . A method of performing a laser process using the laser processing system of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 determining, by the controller, whether or not the automatic drive mode is selected by the mode selection switch;   determining, by the controller, whether or not the distance measured by the distance measurement sensor is within the range; and   executing, by the controller, the laser emission operation and the movement operation as the automatic drive mode, when the automatic drive mode is selected by the mode selection switch and the distance measured by the distance measurement sensor is within the range.